WI Iraq Vet Candidate Under SWIFTBOAT-like Attack with State Money

[mb7588a]

Wisconsin State Senator Joe Leibham is facing a serious and sprited challenge by Jamie Aulik, a WI Army Reserve Sergeant, and veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Aulik has been campaigning on State Sen. Leibham's vote against providing state funding for proper body armor for WI reservists. Leibham has resorted to posting the following release on his official state senate (paid for by the taxpayers) webpage:

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen09/news/Press/2006/col2006-029.htm

Recently, I learned from some area citizens that they had received a pre-recorded phone call from an area political candidate suggesting that the State Senate voted against providing our courageous service men and women in the National Guard with appropriate body armor.

After learning of these calls, I contacted Lt. Colonel Tim Donovan at the Wisconsin National Guard and he made it clear that “this accusation is simply not true!” The Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard currently has over 2000 soldiers and airmen deployed oversees and every single one of these troops assigned is issued a complete set of Inceptor Body Armor, provided by active services and procured with federal funds. The State Senate does not have a role in funding or a vote in providing this equipment to our troops.

Interestingly, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin launched similar false attacks earlier this year. In response, Brig. Gen James Krueck, the senior National Guard infantry officer in the Central Command area of operations (which includes Iraq and Afghanistan), issued the following statement, “I can assure everyone in Wisconsin that all active Guard and reserve service members are issued full sets of the best body armor in the world before they set foot in a combat zone.”

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As a citizen and as your State Senator, I have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for our service men, women and their families. I am extremely proud of my legislative record on behalf of our troops and veterans and believe that such support should transcend party lines and be above cheap partisan politics.


Nevermind that the Lt. Colonel cited does not address the vote, State Sen. Leibham says it never happened! Not only that, he's proud to have voted against bringing this bill to the floor:

Senate Bill 609!
The adjutant general or a designee shall issue all necessary supplies to members and units of the national guard and may contract for the purchase and transportation of such supplies, subject to s. 16.71 (1). From the appropriation under s. 20.465 (1) (am), the adjutant general or a designee shall purchase and issue the latest version of the highest quality body armor to every resident who is a member of the national guard or of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces and who is called into the U. S. armed forces for combat duty.

St. Sen. Leibham also wrote this letter to a local newspaper: http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060817/SHE0601/608170435/1111/SHEopinion calling Jamie Aulik DISHONEST. Typical.

Send Jamie Aulik some cash to help him fight this attack!
https://www.jamieaulik.org/contribute/payment.php

[Monkeyman]

1. Right now all our org. can do is endorce him

We have covoys coming up money for fuel is being held onto

[mb7588a]

2. Excellent.

How's the fight in IL going?

[Monkeyman]

3. We are taking to them

This Covoy is most of the Midwest. We call up to Wisc . No one returned calls still can get there email me for details